Butler did not participate in spring ball, this after catching just nine passes last year for 112 yards and a touchdown. The former 5-star recruit from Georgia said in January he was leaving USC to pursue more playing time elsewhere. Soon after his father said Butler did not get a fair shake under Lane Kiffin.

Only Butler never transferred and remained enrolled at USC.

Kiffin said before spring he would not reach out to Butler about returning but also said he'd be open to meeting with Butler if the receiver initiated. Regardless of who made the first move, the Trojans are better off with Butler on the roster.

Here are my top five observations from USC's spring-ending scrimmage at the Coliseum:

1. Passing thoughts

Quarterback Matt Barkley needs to play better than he did Saturday for the Trojans to have a successful 2011. Yes, I know, he was missing most of his receiving corps, including Robert Woods, and the offensive line is a makeshift crew. But that's no excuse for the accuracy issues Barkley experienced, especially with no blitzing allowed.

(Funny exchange on that subject: "We chose not to blitz," Monte Kiffin said. You chose? "It may not have been my decision," he said. "It might have been somebody [else], a guy with the last name Kiffin.")

On the last drive of the first half, Barkley had tight end Randall Telfer open down the right sideline and overthrew him. On the first drive of the second half, Barkley underthrew a pass for Robbie Boyer, and Brian Baucham intercepted it. And on the last drive of the game, Barkley had Markeith Ambles open down the middle and overthrew him.

Fourteen practices and one spring-game scrimmage later, USC coach Lane Kiffin still isn't sure how good a football team he has. And he might not know until the season kicks off Sept. 3 against Minnesota.

“It is hard to assess with so many people out for all of spring and so many people coming in that are going to have to play for us,” Kiffin said Saturday after USC's spring game at the Coliseum. “It's really hard to address where we're at and figure it out.”

This is how the Trojans are trending: The defense is improving, while the offense is stuck in place, awaiting reinforcements.

That was clear Saturday, when the defense controlled most of the scrimmage, compiling 42 points on stops and turnovers, while the offense had 29, accumulated the old-fashioned way.

** The first-team defense controlled the action early before the offense responded late against the reserves. Especially impressive defenders included Nick Perry, DaJohn Harris, Marquis Simmons and Dallas Kelley.

** Top receiver Robert Woods did not play after spraining his ankle playing basketball Friday. Receiver Brandon Carswell (concussion) and tight end Rhett Ellison (back) also went down, and the passing game struggled as a result. Quarterback Matt Barkley completed only 22 of 42 passes for 212 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

** The running game got going after a slow start. Curtis McNeal, D.J. Morgan and Dillon Baxter all had their moments, averaging a collective 7.3 yards per carry. Morgan missed most of the second half because of a shoulder injury.

** Tailback Marc Tyler did not play. He's still recovering from a concussion.

Saturday's 1 p.m. scrimmage at the Coliseum marks USC's final practice of spring -- and the first and only opportunity for fans to check out the Trojans before the 2011 season begins.

Here are five things to watch during the spring game:

1. Barkley-to-Woods

Coach Lane Kiffin says you can build an offense around a great quarterback and receiver. USC appears to have both in Matt Barkley and Robert Woods. It'll be interesting to see how they deal with double-team coverage akin to what they'll face during the season.

The flip side to the defense's dominance Saturday was a rough afternoon for the USC offense. Penalties were particularly problematic, with seven of eight infractions going against the offense and leading to numerous third-and-long situations.

“I won't name names, but I thought a lot of freshmen came in here and did not perform very well,” Trojans coach Lane Kiffin said. “That happens. Unfortunately, it happened with a number of guys.”

Although he didn't single anyone out, Kiffin did mention that the absence of senior tight end Rhett Ellison (ankle) led to some of the struggles.

Ellison's youthful backups (Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer and Christian Thomas) had trouble lining up at times, as did fullback Soma Vainuku and receiver Markeith Ambles. Most of the penalties were for illegal formations or shifts.

The young players weren't the only culprits, though. Redshirt-junior tackle Matt Kalil said the officials whistled him twice for not being on the line of scrimmage, the second time because he complained after the first one.

** The defense dominated the scrimmage, allowing only one touchdown in 73 plays. The offense struggled to run the ball and get lined up properly. Of eight penalties, seven were against the offense.

** Several of the penalties were for illegal formations or shifts. Lane Kiffin wouldn't name names but cited "a lot of freshmen" as the culprits. That group includes the young tight ends (starter Rhett Ellison didn't play because of a sore ankle), fullback Soma Vainuku and receiver Markeith Ambles.